Padres lock up Hundley through 2015

The San Diego Padres today announced that they have agreed to terms with catcher Nick Hundley on a contract through the 2014 season with a club option for 2015.

"Nick has developed into one of our club's core players," said Byrnes. "He impacts the game on both offense and defense and has evolved into a leader on the field and in the clubhouse."

Nick Hundley, 28, set career highs in nearly every offensive category in 2011, including runs, hits, triples, home runs, batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage. He hit .288 (81-for-281) with 16 doubles, five triples, nine home runs, 29 RBI and 34 runs scored in 82 games, including 73 starts behind the plate. As catcher, he threw out a career-high 24 would-be base stealers last season, besting his previous total of 13 from 2008.

Originally signed by the Padres as a second-round selection in the 2005 First-Year Player Draft, Hundley has hit .255 (257-for-1008) over parts of four Major League seasons in San Diego. He has tallied 56 doubles, 10 triples, 30 home runs, 126 RBI and 111 runs scored over that stretch.

Since making his Big League debut in 2008, Hundley has posted a 3.94 ERA that ranks seventh among National League catchers over that four-year stretch.